13 parking spaces lost in Stroudsburg

Pedestrian-friendly improvements to Stroudsburg's intersections will mean 13 less parking spaces in the downtown area.

CHRISTINA TATU

Pedestrian-friendly improvements to Stroudsburg's intersections will mean 13 less parking spaces in the downtown area.

The borough will lose the spots under a $3 million project aimed at bringing local intersections up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The project includes optimizing signals for better traffic flow, making drainage improvements, installing extended handicapped accessible curbs and new traffic signals that will include special signals for visually and hearing impaired pedestrians.

The work is expected to be finished in September.

Because of curb extensions, eight spaces will be removed at Sixth and Main streets, four from Fifth and Main streets and one spot will be lost at Fifth and Ann streets, said Ron Young, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Parking falls under the jurisdiction of the borough and borough officials approved the project "to increase safety for pedestrians and handicapped persons, and to make the downtown more aesthetically pleasing," Young said.

The borough has 788 metered spaces, as well as a number of un-metered public spots, like those located in front of the municipal building intended for residents conducting borough business, said Stroudsburg Borough Manager Cathie Thomas.

The current roadwork is actually the second phase of the project.

The first phase was completed in 2008 when the curbs were extended at the intersections of Main Street and Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets, Young said.

The majority of the project is being paid for by federal grants, although Stroudsburg Borough has contributed $776,000 toward the project.

As for whether the loss of spaces will be bad for business, it's a trade-off, said Richard Berkowitz, President of the Jacob Stroud Corp./Downtown Business Association.

"They are trying to make improvements for pedestrian traffic, which is good for our businesses. You always have to suffer some difficulties when there are improvements," Berkowitz said.

He does have concerns about additional traffic that might be generated in the downtown area if the county moves some of its agencies into 701 Main Street, the large brick building at the corner of Seventh and Main streets.

"I think in the long-term there should be continued discussions about another parking deck, which isn't just for the county court," he said.

Martha Loomis, co-owner of Josephine's Fleur-de-lis on Main Street, thinks the extended curbs will be good for business, despite a loss of parking spots.

"We are very, very excited about these curb bump outs. It's going to be an incredible enhancement to the downtown," Loomis said Tuesday.

One of the new extensions will be located in front of Loomis' store.

Big orange construction cones have squared off an area in front of Fleur-de-lis.

"I'm hopeful, although I am always worried about the loss of parking spots," Loomis said.

Like Berkowitz, she agrees the discussion on downtown parking needs to continue.

She believes doing away with parallel parking on the south side of Main Street and replacing it with diagonal parking spots, like those on the north side of Main Street, would be a way to add additional spots.

"They could potentially do that at Fifth and Sixth, and definitely they could do that between Sixth and Seventh," Loomis said.

"If you look at it, the Seventh Street Bridge was painful, but look at what the result is now. It's a wonderful entrance into our town," she said.

Trish D'Imperio, owner of Ready Set Run on Main Street in Stroudsburg is worried about the loss of parking.

The area in front of her store is set to lose three spots.

"I think in the end, it could be a good thing for pedestrian safety. You really can't cross from my store over to Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's just really not safe," she said.

When D'Imperio worked at Aardvark Sports Shop, which used to be at the corner of Main and Seventh streets, she lost three spots on Seventh Street and two spots on Main Street to the 2008 curb improvements.